Literary Blunders: A Chapter in the "History of Human Error"

audiobook

Literary Blunders: A Chapter in the "History of Human Error"

by Henry B. (Henry Benjamin) Wheatley

EN·~3 hours

Chapters

Description

This witty compendium turns the often‑overlooked world of typographical slip‑ups, mistranslations and scholarly missteps into a lively tour through the history of human error. Drawing on the work of early literary scholars, the author catalogues everything from phantom words that haunt dictionaries to amusing misquotations that have shaped popular understanding. The tone is gently satirical, inviting listeners to smile at the absurdities while still appreciating the depth of research behind each anecdote. Readers will discover how even the most respected authors and translators have left behind a trail of charming blunders.

The book is organized into sections—general blunders, author‑specific mishaps, translation goofs, bibliographic confusions and school‑boy errors—each illustrated with examples and brief commentary from noted experts. It shows how misprints have survived the ages, why some mistakes were left uncorrected, and what they reveal about publishing. With a blend of humor and scholarly insight, the work serves as both an entertaining listen and a useful reference for anyone fascinated by language quirks. It promises a delightful exploration of the accidental art beneath the pages of our literary heritage.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (228K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

1995-12-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

HB

Henry B. (Henry Benjamin) Wheatley

1838–1917

Best known for his deep love of London, this Victorian man of letters turned local history, bibliography, and indexing into lively, lasting reference works. His books on Samuel Pepys and the streets of London helped make him a trusted guide for readers and researchers alike.

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